-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former President George W. Bush is visiting Zambia to promote a health initiative that focuses on cervical and breast cancer prevention and treatment .

In the city of Kabwe , Bush worked with local residents Saturday to refurbish a clinic used to screen , diagnose and treat cervical cancer .

Bush heads to the capital of Lusaka , where he will designate a cancer center at a university teaching hospital and meet with governmental and health care leaders .

He will then travel to Botswana to launch a similar program aimed at combating cancer .

The trip to both nations -- which ends Thursday -- is part of the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative spearheaded by his foundation that seeks to expand cervical and breast cancer screening , and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa .

Cancer in Africa is an emerging global concern . The continent has an acute shortage of experts such as oncologists , and lacks infrastructure and data to combat the disease , exacerbating the concern .

Bush and former first lady Laura Bush have previously visited the continent as part of his foundation 's health initiative .

In a 2008 trip to Tanzania , they highlighted U.S. initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS , malaria and poverty during a trip to five African nations that included Rwanda and Benin .

`` Different people may have different views about you and your administration and your legacy , '' Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said at the time . `` You , Mr. President , and your administration , have been good friends of our country and have been good friends of Africa . ''

As president , Bush introduced an emergency AIDS program that saved millions of lives in Africa by providing antiretroviral drugs .

Analysts have said that his health initiatives offer a chance to make the case that his legacy on foreign policy should not be judged on the Iraq war alone .

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Cancer is emerging as a global concern in Africa

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The continent has an acute shortage of experts such as oncologists

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It also lacks infrastructure and data to combat the disease